Loto-Québec incorporates the concept of responsibility into its administrative framework and creates a team to conduct scientific research and prevent excessive gambling.

1998

Count Me Out, a program designed to raise awareness among young people about the risks of games of chance and gambling, is launched in some 3,200 schools across Québec.

Loto-Québec creates a consortium with Canadian Pacific Hotels and the Fonds de solidarité FTQ to acquire and develop the Manoir Richelieu hotel complex.

December: Creation of Ingenio, a new subsidiary dedicated to multimedia.

The Government of Québec modifies Bill 84 governing lotteries: starting February 1, 2000, the sale of lottery products to minors is prohibited.

1999

June: Adjacent to the Casino de Charlevoix, the newly restored Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu hotel opens its doors. This property is the pride and joy of a consortium consisting of Loto-Québec, Canadian Pacific Hotels and the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. The resulting complex is a world-class resort.

2000

The sale of lottery products to persons under 18 years of age is prohibited. The "18+" logo is added to Loto-Québec messages following the adoption of the new law prohibiting the sale of lottery tickets to minors.

Lotomatique is completely reworked. This subscription service enables consumers to play Lotto 6/49, Super 7, Québec 49, and multiple Extra numbers, all automatically.

February: Loto-Québec launches a lottery played with a CD-ROM. The game was developed by subsidiary Ingenio.

The 8,250 lottery terminals are replaced by a model manufactured by Québec firm ETI.

Loto-Québec launches a major ad campaign to counter compulsive gambling, adopting the theme "Gambling should remain a game."

A parental control software is offered at the launch of the new multimedia lottery game: Trésors de la tour.

Loto-Québec helps create the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours at McGill University.

2001 to 2010

2001

April: Loto-Québec increases its allocation to countering compulsive gambling to $20 million. Management of the prevention and treatment program is handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

October: Adjacent to the Casino de Hull, the Théâtre du Casino, the Hilton Lac-Leamy and a conference centre are inaugurated. Total cost of the project: $210 million.

2005

May: Loto-Québec celebrates 35 years of existence.

May: Loto-Québec inaugurates Espace Création (a venue for exhibits and activities dedicated to promoting the visual arts, located on the ground floor of Loto-Québec’s Montréal head office) with a Gilles Carle tribute exhibition.

July 26: A new subsidiary, the Société des salons de jeux du Québec, is created.

October 14: Two new programs for the voluntary withdrawal of video lottery terminals are announced.

November: Loto-Québec publishes its first Social Responsibility Review.

Québec’s advertising industry honours the 6/49's "Always be nice" ad campaign with two Coq d’or and two Créa awards. The ad also earned a Silver Cassies in a competition hosted by the Canadian advertising industry.

The Code of Responsible Commercialization for video lottery retailers is circulated.

2006

The weekly edition of La Poule aux œufs d’or surpasses the $100 million mark in prizes paid out on TV since the game was introduced in 1993.

The Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel again wins Best Overall Performance in North America (commercial category), awarded at Hilton Corporation’s annual convention.

March 30: Loto-Québec’s Casino Mundial subsidiary officially becomes shareholder in the French Moliflor Loisirs group, the third largest casino operator in France.

April 28: A Québecer wins a $30 million Super 7 jackpot, becoming the biggest winner in the history of Loto-Québec.

June 27: Ingenio and Bally Technologies announce that they have formed a long-term strategic alliance to vary the casino games available and maximize player entertainment.

November 2: The Québec Cabinet grants Loto-Québec the authority to open gaming halls in the province. This move represented a new stage in the implementation of Loto-Québec’s 2004-2007 Development Plan.

2010

June 25: Lotto Max offers the largest combined jackpot ever announced by Loto-Québec. In addition to its $50 million jackpot, Lotto Max sweetens the pot with 49 Maxmillions.

July 26: The government authorizes the Société des loteries du Québec to offer online gaming.

August 20: Loto-Québec pays out a Lotto Max jackpot of approximately $37.6 million, the biggest prize ever won by a Québec resident.

October18: Loto-Québec introduces Kinzo, a new group game that provides financial assistance to non-profit organizations.

November 22:Formule groupe, a new way to play the lottery as a group, is launched.

December 1: Loto-Québec’s online gaming site, Espacejeux.com, is up and running!

An internal committee on responsible gambling is formed.

An Au Centre du hasard information booth opens at the Casino de Mont‑Tremblant.

The Bien joué! program is launched to recognize efforts made by video lottery retailers to responsibly manage the terminals.

Loto-Québec updates its mission and unveils its vision, both of which include the responsible marketing of gaming.

2011 to today

2011

May 2: Loto-Québec launches Lotto Poker. A first in Québec, this lottery offers an animated instant game called Quick Play that allows consumers to immediately see the result on the consumer screen.

June 8: Loto-Québec inaugurates two Kinzo halls, one in Repentigny and one in Longueuil, which are part of the network with the Montréal Kinzo hall.

July 20: Inauguration of new Kinzo halls in Joliette and Saint‑Eustache.

July 28: Loto-Québec is granted Security Control Standard Certification by the World Lottery Association (WLA SCS 2006), in recognition of the secure and trustworthy manner in which it operates games of chance.

The Lotoresponsable recognition program for lottery retailers begins.

October 26: In keeping with the results of a pilot project launched in 2010, the Société des bingos du Québec adapts the Kinzo project by establishing smaller, more user friendly halls.

November 7: Gérard Bideau is appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Loto-Québec.

November 30: Kinzo grand opening in LaSalle.

December 7: Loto-Québec launches Kinzo in Beauport.

December 9: Kinzo begins operations in Saint‑Vincent‑de‑Paul, Laval.

2012

March 26: Mise-o-jeu is offering its sports bet selections online and through its mobile app.

May 7: Loto-Québec launches Sprinto, its 2nd terminal-based Quick Play game. In addition to an evening draw, a horse racing animation that takes place at time of purchase enables consumers to see live the result of the in-store game.

2013

January 28: Loto-Québec customers are able to bet on a cinema awards ceremony for the first time.

January 30: Kinzo opens in Laval.

March 11: Loto-Québec launches Lotto :D, its 3rd terminal-based Quick Play game. In addition to an evening draw, a dice game animation that takes place at time of purchase enables consumers to see live the result of the in-store game.

May 27: Lotto Poker, La Quotidienne and Astro are added to the several lottery products already available online.

June 13: Grand opening of the Zone at the Casino du Lac-Leamy, the only gaming area of its kind in North America.

August 13: A new Kinzo hall opens in Saint-Hyacinthe.

September 15: Loto-Québec launches the new Lotto 6/49. One guaranteed $1 million prize each draw.

October 16: Kinzo opens in Saint-Jérôme.

November 12: To mark its 35 anniversary, the Collection Loto-Québec launches its new cultural program, L’art de partager.

November 21: After four years of renovations and an investment of $305 million dollars, the Casino de Montréal inaugurates its new gaming and entertainment areas.

November 25: Loto-Québec launches Lotto Hockey, its fourth Quick Play game. The results of the game appear directly on the consumer screen at the end of the hockey animation (accuracy shots). A Lotto Hockey ticket is also good for the evening draw of Extra.

December 6: Kinzo Henri IV opens in Québec.

2014

May 5: Loto-Québec launches Roue de fortune Éclair, its fifth Quick Play game. The results of the game appear directly on the consumer screen at the end of the wheel animation (ball stops on a wheel’s segment associated with a prize). A Roue de fortune Éclair ticket is also good for a draw for a TV participation in the Roue de fortune chez vous!* televised show.

November: Loto-Québec is establishing a unit that will focus on strategic business intelligence and innovation and act as a catalyst for the entire Corporation, thus benefitting all sectors. To that end, the Ingenio subsidiary has been dissolved.

April: The Lottery sector launches a new distribution model for scratch tickets.

April to August : Simon Patenaude is appointed Acting President and Chief Executive Officer

May 30: Loto-Québec is launching a new way to play the popular lottery Lotto Poker. With the Lotto Poker Plus Quick Play game, players have a better chance of winning the constantly increasing progressive jackpot. A first for lottery fans!